TOLEDO, Ohio, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- A federal judge ruled Ohio Tuesday voters who requested an absentee ballot and didn't receive one could cast a provisional ballot at the polls.
But the ruling by U.S. District Judge David Katz may have little effect, since it came about two hours before Ohio's polls closed, the Toledo Blade reported.
The decision overturned a ruling by Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell that people who requested an absentee ballot, but never received one, could not vote at the polls.
Provisional ballots are kept separate and not counted until it is verified that a voter is legally registered.
"The whole point of provisional ballots is that the Board of Elections can go back and check the voters' eligibility," said Maria Blanco, executive director of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights.
Despite a steady rain, Ohio's turnout was so heavy at least two polling places ran out of ballots, but there were only sporadic challenges of voters by Republicans or Democrats.
